The former royal burgh of Cromarty lies on the northern tip of the Black Isle peninsula, at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth in northeast Scotland. It is home to brothers Bobby and Gordon Hogg, descendants of a long line of local fisher folk. They can trace their ancestry back for centuries in the small coastal port. In the 1861 census there were no less than 96 Hoggs living in the Cromarty district and an entry for the family name in the Old Parish Register dates back as early as 1698.

Bobby and Gordon believe they are the last two fluent speakers of the 'Cromarty fisher dialect', a unique Scots dialect identified in Robert McColl Millar's study of 'Northern and Insular Scots' as 'North Northern A', mainly associated with the fishing communities of the Black Isle (Cromarty and Avoch) and other small towns and villages on the Cromarty Firth. It is said that at one time there were at least two, if not three, dialects in the Cromarty area - fisher, town, and farmer. While several Cromarty residents retain aspects of the fisher vocabulary, when Bobby and Gordon get together they converse fluently in the dialect.

In this audio extract from March 2007, Bobby and Gordon talk about Cromarty East Church. This category 'A' church was established in the Middle Ages but much of its architecture dates from the 17th century. It was featured recently in the BBC's programme 'Restoration Village' and has secured lottery funding for restoration work.

Bobby: That's the kirk I went to when Ah was a boy.

Gordon: Me an all. Ah was baptised in it an Ah was married in it.

Bobby: Eh?

Gordon: Ah said, Ah was baptised in it an Ah was married in it.

Bobby: Ah mind when he was baptised he took the damn place aboot him. [Laughter]. That's right, aye.

Gordon: Aye.

Bobby: His aunt from America was home at e time right, an she held him right, an apparently he'd a pin stickin in him or something.

Gordon: A bloody [?] pin stickin in me, no wonder Ah was howlin.

Interviewer: Ooh! Oh no.

Bobby: Nae wonder he greet - he grat. He grat!

Gordon: He grat, aye.

Bobby: Ah remember that all right, aye. Cos there were two kirks at that time, but there's only one there now, an the one that's there now is practically empty like kirks all over the place

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Cromarty Fisher Folk (19 of 20)

ROSS: Cromarty

2000s

language; linguistics; churches; conservation; audio

Am Baile

Am Baile: Cromarty Fisher Folk

The former royal burgh of Cromarty lies on the northern tip of the Black Isle peninsula, at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth in northeast Scotland. It is home to brothers Bobby and Gordon Hogg, descendants of a long line of local fisher folk. They can trace their ancestry back for centuries in the small coastal port. In the 1861 census there were no less than 96 Hoggs living in the Cromarty district and an entry for the family name in the Old Parish Register dates back as early as 1698. <br />
<br />
Bobby and Gordon believe they are the last two fluent speakers of the 'Cromarty fisher dialect', a unique Scots dialect identified in Robert McColl Millar's study of 'Northern and Insular Scots' as 'North Northern A', mainly associated with the fishing communities of the Black Isle (Cromarty and Avoch) and other small towns and villages on the Cromarty Firth. It is said that at one time there were at least two, if not three, dialects in the Cromarty area - fisher, town, and farmer. While several Cromarty residents retain aspects of the fisher vocabulary, when Bobby and Gordon get together they converse fluently in the dialect.<br />
<br />
[N.B. Gordon Hogg passed away in 2011, aged 86. Bobby Hogg died a year later, aged 92.]<br />
<br />
<br />
In this audio extract from March 2007, Bobby and Gordon talk about Cromarty East Church. This category 'A' church was established in the Middle Ages but much of its architecture dates from the 17th century. It was featured recently in the BBC's programme 'Restoration Village' and has secured lottery funding for restoration work.<br />
<br />
Bobby: That's the kirk I went to when Ah was a boy.<br />
<br />
Gordon: Me an all. Ah was baptised in it an Ah was married in it.<br />
<br />
Bobby: Eh?<br />
<br />
Gordon: Ah said, Ah was baptised in it an Ah was married in it.<br />
<br />
Bobby: Ah mind when he was baptised he took the damn place aboot him. [Laughter]. That's right, aye. <br />
<br />
Gordon: Aye.<br />
<br />
Bobby: His aunt from America was home at e time right, an she held him right, an apparently he'd a pin stickin in him or something.<br />
<br />
Gordon: A bloody [?] pin stickin in me, no wonder Ah was howlin.<br />
<br />
Interviewer: Ooh! Oh no.<br />
<br />
Bobby: Nae wonder he greet - he grat. He grat! <br />
<br />
Gordon: He grat, aye. <br />
<br />
Bobby: Ah remember that all right, aye. Cos there were two kirks at that time, but there's only one there now, an the one that's there now is practically empty like kirks all over the place